We study various aspects of ecology, biology and diversity of insects associated with woodlands together with processes affecting their habitats and survival. Our research combines entomology, ecology, forestry and GIS methods in order to contribute to rational, evidence-based conservation of biodiversity. To facilitate for information flow between the academic and the "real" worlds we also collaborate with various NGOs, state organizations, land owners and media.

Moreover, the picture of the Rosalia longicorn (Rosalia alpina) was selected for the cover image of the December 2018 Issue of
Journal of Biogeography.

19. 11. 2018

Working team | Author: Pavel Sebek

Czech-French project

Pavel Šebek is currently on a short internship at Irstea in Nogent-sur-Vernisson where he is working with French colleagues, Christophe Bouget, Gwendoline Percel, and Guillem Parmain on a collaborative project between our lab, Christophe's lab, and Jakub Horák (ČZU, Prague).

12. 6. 2018

Bavarian Forest NP | Author: Petr Kozel

10th European Saproxylic Beetle Conference

From 8th to 10th June, our team members, Lukáš Čížek, Lukáš Drag, Fran Kostanjšek, Petr Kozel, Pavel Šebek, and Matthias Weiss, attended a biennial symposium on saproxylic beetles organized by Jörg Müller in Sankt Oswald, Bavaria, Germany. All the members gave talks about their research subjects and participated on a search for a rare beetle Ditylus laevis.

29. 3. 2018

Rhysodes sulcatus | Author: David Hauck

New paper released!

Our latest research article is in early view of
Insect Conservation and Diversity
and should be published later this year. It describes habitat requirements of the wrinkled bark beetle, Rhysodes sulcatus, one of the primeval forest relict species. The beetle requires fallen logs of large trees with moderate humidity.

9. 10. 2017

Veteran trees | Author: Jan Miklín

New paper released!

Our latest research article is in early view of
Diveristy & Distributions
and soon it will be published. The study brings an evidence that, to a great extent, occurrence of veteran trees and their associated species are conditioned by open conditions of the canopy in the past.

Our Master students Lucka Ambrožová, Petr Kozel, and Michal Perlík, have successfully defended their Master theses in June 2017. All the three have also started their Ph.D. in our lab.

Congratulations to all and good luck in future!

1. 9. 2017

Soutok | Author: David Hauck

Guidelines for conservation

In September, Ministry of the Environment has certified the
guidelines
for conservation of open woodlands written by our team members. The document describes different management strategies that can be used in maintenance and restoration of open woodland habitats. It should serve as a general guideline for conservationists, stakeholders and managers of protected areas.

10. 5. 2017

Rambouillet | Author: Pavel Šebek

Travel to France

In the start of May, Pavel Š. installed FIT traps in the forests of Rambouillet, a wooded complex with diverse management strategies, active coppice with standards woods, pheasantry, and reserves. The field work and sampling was arranged with help of Christophe Bouget (Irstea) and his team.

2. 5. 2017

Bavarian Forest NP | Author: admin

2nd International Conference on Forests

The second International Conference on Forests took place from 26. to 29. 04. in the Bavarian Forest National Park, Germany. Two talks were presented by the members of our team. Pavel Šebek talked about the Podyjí project in which the effect of artificial canopy opening on biodiversity has been studied. Two days later, Lukáš Drag presented the first results of the radio-tracking study focused on the protected saproxylic beetle Cerambyx cerdo. The list of other participations was very diverse, the keynote talks were presented by e.g. Prof. David Lindenmayer, or Prof. Lenore Fahrig.

18. 4. 2017

Borzhava Forest | Author: Lukáš Drag

Travel to Ukraine

Last week, Pavel Šebek, Lukáš Drag and Lukáš Čížek spent several days in Ukraine (Закарпатська область). Together with the collaborators from Uzhhorod National University, they searched for the suitable tree locations within the lowland forest of Borzhava river to hang the Flight Interception Traps (FIT).

24. 3. 2017

Soutok | Author: Jan Miklín

Interactive Map

An interactive map of trees and beetles in SE Morava floodplains (Czech Republic) has been released. It summarizes information on trees and beetles collected by mainly David Hauck and Ondra Konvička. Honza Miklín transformed the data into the interactive map.